The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-05-19
PHILOSOPHY OF SLANG.
A Professor of Belles-Lettres Gives a His
tory of the Use of Figurative Terms.

| A Professor OF Ielles-Lettres Gives u h1s-
tory of the Use of Figurative Terms.
"The every day idioms of the Ian
guage commonly called slang are not
SO worthy of unqualified condemnation
as many prudish people suppose" OBJ
served professor of belles-lettres to a
porter the other day.
"'They have direct fgurative signif-
canoe and give scope to an inventive
fancy. For example, the expression
You make me tired indicates to a
shade the feeling of lassitude inflicted
by a bore. Again, the phrase What
are you giving us?' is merely a figura-
tive way of expressing incredulity.
Many sanguinary conflicts have doubt
less been averted by its use, as the rug
| ged, synonymous phrase, You are
lying sir, sirr has been known to give
offense to certain eccentric persons.
Many slang phrases are the embodi-
ment of polite spirit. When you are
out with the boys and exhibit in
meteoric flashes the slumbering hilarity
in your nature, to be told that you are
! intoxicated strikes sensitive chord in
your breast; but to be accosted with
What an elegant load you have got
brings a smile of assent and satisfaction
toyour countenance every time. Gentle
men never acknowledge to being drunk.
1t is a still or a jag they have on.
The word drunk applies only to tramps.
They are synonymous terms. Every
acute intellect will recognize this sub
tie shade of meaning. Gentlemen Of
pUgilistic proclivities are very careful
in their language. They appreciate the
modifying effects of slang idioms and
are particular to employ them in speak
ing of their encounters. Who ever
heard champion of the ring say that
he gave his antagonist black eye or a
bloody nose? He prefers, in spirit of
chivalry, more elegant terms, and will
say that he closed a pepper or tapped
the claret.' If he knocks his opponent
down he will say considerably that he
sent him to grass If he gains a victory
he will not injure the feelings of the
vanquished party by boasting that he
thrashed him. but will pour balm upon
his wounds by stating politely that he
done him up
1.-The parallel between slang phrases
and rugged English" continued the
professor, ''may be drawn still farther.
No man is so devoid of fine feeling as to
acknowledge that he has pawned an
article. 1t is less shocking to hint with
a wink that his uncle has it, or that it
is in 'hock,' or even that he has hung
it up The expressions exhibit the
deed from humorous point of view.
In all walks of life we find this same
| endeavor at politeness. A thief is called
fly man or crook bribe-taker
is called 'boodler,' and swindlers are
called 'buncO steerers' and saw dust
men, This is as it should be. The
English language, devoid of its fgura-
tive idioms, is simply brutal. This ac-
counts for the birth of the word dude
tits farmo elegant than its synonym,
fool The ruthless small boy might
hesitate at the latter, but the former he
can shout out at the top of his lungs
whenever some trife of humanity may
be blown across his path. A slang
term that has peculiar significance is
"a chippy chaser This is applied to
the prosecutors of honorable working
girls. They stand upon the street cor
ners until some pretty girls pass by,
and then follow them block after block
talking in loud voice and otherwise
annoying them. 1t is gratifying to
know that they are generally left
This last expression is applicable to
those who fail to attain the objects of
their desires. The 'chippy chaser if
successful in making the clandestine
acquaintance he seeks, and in making
an appointment for some future even
ing, is. us a rule, stood up This
means, in unvarnished English. that he
stands for hour after hour at the APP
pointed place awaiting the arrival of
the expected female, probably in vio-
lent rain or snow-storm. for 'chippy
chaser never gives up hope. while the
honest girl is possibly sleeping in her
bed .:-N.s
Here again the politeness of slang
idioms is demonstrated. The synonym
of 'chippy chaser is the pitiable word
idiot, which is rather an unpleasant
sounding term to be applied to a young
man. The inventor of this idiom merits
the hearty thanks of the brotherhood.
at is obvious" remarked the pro-
fessOr in conclusion. from the fore
going exposition that our slang origi-
mates from the innate delicacy of feel
ing, which is a characteristic of Ameri-
cans from the small boy up. The
English language, when plainly spoken,
is harsh and Earring and contains many
unpleasant words. Men of fine feeling
naturally express themselves in a
figurative or, to be less scholarly, a
Pickwickian sense. IN. Y Mail and
Express.
He Knows the Sex.